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Nottingham Forest have a huge summer ahead of them to avoid any further breach of the Premier League’s PSR rules whilst improving their squad to maintain their top-flight status.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side endured a tricky second half of the 2023/24 campaign, especially considering a four-point deduction which plunged them into fresh relegation woes.

With the summer transfer window now open, the club will undoubtedly need to bolster their ranks if they are to build on the end of the season which saw Nuno’s side win two of their last three matches.

However, given their financial troubles, they may have to sell multiple players to cut the wage bill and give themselves a huge chance of avoiding a second PSR punishment in as many seasons.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 16, 2024

One player in particular must be sold, especially considering his lack of impact since his move to the East Midlands last summer.

Odysseas Vlachodimos’ stats at Forest in 2023/24

After arriving in Nottingham following a £7.7m move from Portuguese side Benfica, goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos had ambitions of becoming the club's number one despite the addition of Matt Turner just a couple of weeks prior.

The 30-year-old, who is Greece's number one, had to bide his time before making his debut for the club, failing to make a single appearance until the 2-0 win over Aston Villa in November.

His clean sheet against Unai Emery's side is his only during his time in the Premier League, with his game time decreasing massively since the turn of the year.

Vlachodimos has only featured twice under Nuno, with both starts coming in the FA Cup against Blackpool. Insteaad, January addition Matz Sels started every Premier League match after his move to the City Ground.

The former Benfica shot-stopper has since become the third choice behind Sels and Turner, failing to appear in a single matchday squad since the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal in January.

A summer move must be on the cards for the 30-year-old, with the club needing to shift his hefty wages to avoid another punishment from the Premier League for breaking their PSR rules.

How much Odysseas Vlachodimos earns at Forest

A recent report from Football Insider claims that the Reds are willing to part ways with the shot-stopper this summer, hardly a surprise given his hefty wages at the City Ground.

The goalkeeper signed a four-year deal upon his move to the East Midlands, on a reported £45k-per-week, as per Capology – a huge figure given his lack of impact on Trentside.

His weekly wage of £45k-per-week sees the Greece international take home £2.3m a season, with the club needing to cut such a figure off the bill this summer.

Vlachodimos’ subsequent wage sees him earn nearly two times more than attacker Anthony Elanga, who only earns a reported £25k-per-week, despite his stellar first campaign at the City Ground which saw him register 14 goal contributions.

Whilst at the time it was seen as a brilliant piece of business signing a player of his calibre, it has, unfortunately for both parties, been a complete disaster.

Given his experience in Portugal and internationally, he certainly won’t be short of interest, with the Reds needing to cash in as soon as possible to avoid missing the June 30th PSR deadline.

What Forest's starting XI could look like after £77m spending spree

The Forest boss has a huge transfer window ahead of him this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 16, 2024

Gemcon Khulna did justice to their favourites tag by winning the 2020 Bangabandhu T20 Cup, prevailing in a five-run win over Gazi Group Chattogram, one of the most dominant sides through the league phase of the competition. Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 70 took Khulna to a competitive 155 for 7 before he marshalled his troops and kept faith in his young bowlers to come good at the death.For the last over, he handed the ball to Shohidul Islam, who had lost his father on Sunday. Shohidul went to his Narayanganj home and returned to do a three-day quarantine after testing negative for Covid-19, before he got the nod to be officially available for the final. Shohidul picked up two wickets in the last over off which 16 was needed. He gave away 10 runs as Chattogram’s drop in run rate in the middle overs cost them dearly in the end.

Tournament awards

Player of the Tournament – Mustafizur Rahman
Player of the Final – Mahmudullah
Best Batsman – Liton Das
Best Bowler – Mustafizur Rahman
Special Performance Award – Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, and Robiul Islam Robi

Shykat Ali kept Chattogram in the game until his dismissal in the final over with his maiden T20 fifty. He brought down the chase within their reach with his four sixes in his 45-ball knock but had little support at the other end. Their only substantial partnership was the 45 between Shykat and Shamsur Rahman for the fourth wicket, after Liton Das, Chattogram’s best batsman of the tournament, looked sluggish after a blow to his thigh.Apart from Shohidul’s two wickets, Shuvagata Hom, Al-Amin Hossain and Hasan Mahmud took one wicket each. Khulna’s fielding, too, was mostly on the money, especially around the boundary line where Shamim Hossain saved important runs in the death overs.When they batted, however, Mahmudullah had to bring out a one-man show after the rest of the Khulna line-up unravelled around him. He arrived at the crease in the seventh over when Zakir Hasan holed out at deep midwicket. Already, Nahidul Islam had consumed Jahurul Islam and Imrul Kayes during the Powerplay.Mahmudullah and Ariful Haque put together 40 runs for the fourth wicket to get them out of a jam, before Hom and Mahmudullah added another 34 runs, for the fifth wicket. But once Shamim was run out in the 17th over, following a terrible mix-up, it was left to the Khulna captain to take them past the 150-mark.Key to this was him batting till the last over as Chattogram captain Mohammad Mithun dished out Soumya Sarkar’s military medium pace. Mahmudullah smashed a six and two fours in a 17-run last over, which ultimately became crucial for both sides. Also missing from the final was Khulna’s premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the game following a bereavement in his family.

Celtic are set to compete in the revamped and restructured Champions League set-up next season after they won the Scottish Premiership title.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the Hoops will play eight games in the new league phase (formerly the group stage). They will play eight sides from Europe, rather than three teams twice, and play half of the games at Parkhead and half of the matches away from home.

Teams will need to finish inside the top eight in the league to automatically qualify for the knock-outs, whilst teams from ninth to 24th will then compete in two-leg play-off games to make the last 16.

The Scottish giants were knocked out of the Champions League during the group stages this season, as they finished bottom of their group, which included Lazio, Feyenoord, and Atletico Madrid.

Brendan Rodgers may now look to use the upcoming summer transfer window to improve his squad with the hope of making more progress in Europe next term.

The Northern Irish head coach could aim to strengthen his attacking options after the Hoops scored just five goals in six Champions League matches in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Celtic's interest in signing loan star

According to the Daily Record, Rodgers is 'desperate' to sign loan star Adam Idah from Norwich City after his impressive stint with the club this year.

The report claims that the Ireland international is a target for the former Liverpool and Leicester boss, who wants to snap him up on a permanent deal after his temporary spell at Parkhead.

It also states that the Canaries are looking for a fee of at least £6m to allow their academy graduate to move on from Carrow Road before the end of the summer transfer window.

There is no mention, though, of how much Celtic are prepared to pay for the 23-year-old centre-forward and if they are willing to splash out £6m on his services.

Football Insider have also published a report on the situation and they claim that new Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, who recently replaced David Wagner in the dugout in Norfolk, wants to evaluate the forward in pre-season before making a decision on his future.

The outlet states that he is a 'top target' for the Scottish giants, which backs up the Daily Record's claim, but adds that they are not going to wait around for too long if Thorup takes his time to decide on whether or not to cash in on the striker.

If Rodgers and Celtic can convince the Yellows to part ways with the forward this summer, though, then he could come in and thrive at Parkhead alongside another potential signing – Stuart Armstrong.

Celtic's interest in a Parkhead reunion

Football Insider recently claimed that the Premiership champions are plotting a swoop to sign the Scotland international on a free transfer ahead of next season.

The outlet reported that the 32-year-old attacking midfielder has emerged as a target for the Bhoys after his 'surprise' exit from Southampton upon the expiry of his contract, after they won promotion to the Premier League.

They are said to be considering a move to sign the former Hoops ace but will look at younger alternatives before they decide to bring him back to Parkhead for a second stint in Glasgow.

During his first spell with Rodgers at Celtic, between 2016 and 2018, Armstrong racked up an eye-catching 22 goals and 13 assists in 88 appearances as a central midfielder.

This shows that the Scottish dynamo already knows how to perform in the Premiership and for the Hoops under the pressure of winning titles and trophies each season, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Parkhead next season.

Like Idah, Armstrong has the experience of playing in Glasgow and in Scotland, which makes them both ideal targets in comparison to players from foreign leagues who would need time to adjust to the league and the pressures of playing for the club.

As you can see in the table above, the Hoops target is also still in top form after an impressive season in the Championship with Southampton, as they won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Idah could now be an exciting signing alongside Armstrong as the duo could come in and hit the ground running at Parkhead as an impressive attacking duo.

Why Adam Idah could thrive with Stuart Armstrong

The Saints maestro showcased his creative quality from a central midfield position during the 2023/24 campaign and he could be a fantastic player to play behind the Irish marksman.

Armstrong ranked within the top 9% of midfielders in the Championship for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.20) and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.33), which speaks to his ability to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates.

Idah, meanwhile, displayed his ruthless finishing in a Celtic shirt as he scored eight goals from 6.86 xG in the Premiership during the second half of the season.

That came after the 23-year-old striker, who Rodgers hailed as "fast" and a "catalyst", had scored six goals from 5.23 xG during the first half of the campaign for Norwich in the English Championship.

These statistics show that he was an efficient and effective finisher in England and Scotland during the season, with a combined 14 goals from 12.09 xG.

As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 3 star was prolific during his short spell at Paradise as he impressively averaged a goal every 76 minutes for the Scottish giants.

Whilst there is no guarantee that he will be able to carry that form over to a full campaign in the Premiership if Celtic sign him permanently, Idah has the potential to thrive alongside Armstrong.

Celtic could start the window perfectly with £4m+ swoop for star target

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the shot-stopper this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 10, 2024

The pair could be an exciting duo to watch at Parkhead next term as the free agent midfielder has the creative quality to split open the opposition's defence to put the forward in positions to showcase his superb finishing ability.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is the leading candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, but he has reservations about stepping into the role.

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Ten Hag in danger of losing his jobMan Utd face Aston Villa on SundayVan Nistelrooy among the contendersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford in a coaching role in the summer, but he probably didn't expect to find himself linked with the manager's job so soon into his spell. That is the scenario facing United after a woeful start to the season, with the Red Devils losing three of their first six Premier League games and also struggling in Europe.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Now, Ten Hag finds himself on the brink of losing his job. It was reported this week that the Dutch coach has one game to save his job, with a trip to Aston Villa to come on Sunday. Red Devils chiefs will reportedly hold a meeting after the match, which will be attended by INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with Ten Hag's future surely to be a key talking point.

DID YOU KNOW?

However, they may have to look elsewhere should they decide to part ways with Ten Hag. According to the Mirror, Van Nistelrooy has reservations about taking the top job, fearing it may be seen as a betrayal of Ten Hag. During his time in charge of PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23, Van Nistelrooy accused his assistant of conspiring with the club's directors behind his back, and he wants to avoid a similar situation occurring at Old Trafford. A source told the newspaper: "Van Nistelrooy is a principled guy. He felt betrayed at Eindhoven – and he will not want to be viewed as the man who went behind Erik ten Hag’s back."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Failure to pick up all three points at Villa Park on Sunday could well spell the end for Ten Hag. But you wouldn't believe he was reportedly close to losing his job based on his comments this week about his future.

Sandeep Lamichhane was also miserly before the Tallawahs overcame a stumble to comfortably complete the chase

Peter Della Penna26-Aug-2020It wasn’t pretty but the Jamaica Tallawahs made sure not to repeat the same chasing blunders they committed against Guyana Amazon Warriors earlier in the tournament, winning a battle of attrition to chase a target of 109 by five wickets with two overs to spare at Queen’s Park Oval. On a slow wicket which made for unattractive strokeplay, the Tallawahs suffocated the Amazon Warriors from ball one when Fidel Edwards cleaned up Brandon King with a yorker to give them an early advantage they never relinquished.Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane built on the early work done by Edwards with stifling spells of spin bowling to restrict the Amazon Warriors to 63 for 7 in the 15th over before some late hitting from Imran Tahir prevented the Amazon Warriors from registering their lowest CPL total and got them past 100.Asif Ali fined 20% of his match fee

Jamaica Tallawahs batsman Asif Ali was fined 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the CPL code of conduct. After being dismissed, Ali swung his bat in the direction of bowler Keemo Paul. Ali was charged with being in breach of section 2.18 of the code of conduct, acting contrary to the spirit of the game.

Unlike the last time these two teams met when the Amazon Warriors set a CPL record for the lowest total successfully defended, the Tallawahs took a largely conservative approach to ensure the feat was not repeated. Only three players had a strike rate above 100 in the chase, the last of them being Andre Russell whose late flurry of sixes settled any nerves in the Tallawahs dugout.Edwards puts on a vintage displayThe 38-year-old fast bowler looked like he was bowling with the energy of someone half his age. King never moved his feet to adequately account for the first-ball yorker that pinged the base of middle stump. Edwards showed he still has the pace to bang it in short to good effect too, suckering Anthony Bramble into pulling to deep midwicket, one of the only two boundary riders in the Powerplay, to make it 17 for 3. He came back later on in his death spell to claim a third with the yorker again, trapping Keemo Paul in front of leg stump.Mystery spin twins tie up Warriors againIn the first match-up between the two sides, Mujeeb and Lamichhane wrecked the Amazon Warriors line-up only to see their efforts wasted in a clumsy chase. That was not to be this time as the pair reprised their dominance from the first encounter between the two sides.Mujeeb was marvellous in a Man-of-the-Match display, striking in the second over with the new ball when he made the most of an extra delivery following a wide on the last ball of the over to trap Hetmyer prodding forward on what was a generous decision from the umpire to uphold his appeal for lbw. However, no luck was involved in the wicket of Nicholas Pooran as a carom ball skidded in from a good length to catch Pooran flat-footed and tardy in bringing his bat down, unable to keep it from crashing into middle stump.Lamichhane got into the act in the 12th over. After Pooran opted to safely cut a steady diet of googlies with the spin through the off side, Sherfane Rutherford took the much riskier option of trying to slog against the turn of the googly resulting in a skied chance to extra cover. Mujeeb returned to cap off his haul of 3 for 11 by getting Green to poke an edge to Rovman Powell at slip. From 63 for 7, only some adventurous hitting by Naveen-ul-Haq and Tahir took Amazon Warriors into three figures.Tallawahs determined not to let history repeatAfter stumbling badly in pursuit of 119 the first time these sides faced off at Brian Lara Academy, the Tallawahs employed a cautious approach for the majority of their chase, leaving the fireworks for another day. The Amazon Warriors did their best to exploit whatever demons remained on a wicket which offered uneven bounce throughout the match, dislodging five batsmen in the process.There appeared some hope for the Amazon Warriors when Powell threw away his wicket with a heave off Ashmead Nedd to long-off, followed two overs later by a toe edge off the bat of Jermaine Blackwood – the most fluent Tallawahs batsman in the chase – that gave Naveen his second wicket and left the chase at 62 for 5 in the 11th over.But Nkrumah Bonner patiently stroked the ball around the infield, playing late with soft hands and mostly off the back foot to account for the variable bounce. Russell too was circumspect in the first half of his innings as the Tallawahs allowed the required run rate to climb above a run a ball with five overs to go. It was then that Russell finally chose Tahir to attack, clubbing him over the roof at long-on for six. He began the 17th with a flat six off Paul into the Amazon Warriors dugout before Bonner ended the match off the last ball of the 18th with another six over long-on off Naveen.

Glasgow Rangers forward Ross McCausland was one of the stars of the show on Tuesday night as he played a key role in the thumping 5-2 win over Dundee at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.

The Northern Ireland international scored the first goal for the Gers on the night, prodding the ball past Jon McCracken, before going on to register an assist for the fifth goal from Scott Wright.

A product of the Gers academy system, the 21-year-old starlet has emerged as a regular first-team option under Philippe Clement this season and looks to be one of the most promising young talents at the club.

However, the Light Blues could now land an even bigger talent than McCausland as they reportedly eye up a teenage sensation from England.

Rangers' interest in Championship starlet

According to the Daily Mail, Rangers are one of a number of teams interested in a possible swoop for Stoke City teenager Sol Sidibe in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League giants Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the 17-year-old defensive midfielder, who was dubbed a "terrific" talent by former boss Alex Neil.

It adds that the Light Blues and Italian side AC Milan are also keeping an eye on his situation as they eye a potential swoop to sign the young whiz.

As you can see in the table above, plenty of players have made their debuts and broken through at first-team level for the club well before their 20th birthday, which suggests that the potential is there for Sidibe to come straight into the senior side.

Why Sol Sidibe is a bigger talent than Ross McCausland

McCausland had only played three first-team matches for Rangers prior to the 2023/24 campaign and has now racked up 39 games by the age of 21, with 37 of those coming this season.

The 21-year-old had been playing academy football on a regular basis prior to the current term, with nine goals and five assists in 41 B team outings.

Sidibe, meanwhile, made his first-team debut for Stoke at the age of 16 and has already played eight senior games for the club in all competitions this season.

This means that the young whiz has already made more than three times as many first-team appearances for the Potters by the age of 17 than McCausland had by his 20th birthday last May, when he had played two games for Rangers.

Sidibe has also registered one goal and seven assists in 18 academy games this season for Stoke, which is one goal contribution every 2.25 matches on average as a defensive or central midfielder.

Whereas, McCausland managed 14 goals and assists in 41 B team appearances as a winger, which is one every 2.93 outings on average. That average drops to one every 4.33 first-team games with three goals and six assists in 39 games.

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By
Dan Emery

May 15, 2024

Sidibe could, therefore, arrive as a bigger talent due to his emergence at a much younger age whilst also making a bigger impact in the final third at youth level, despite playing in a less attacking position.

This is why Clement should push to bring him to the club this summer as the Stoke youngster could emerge as a future star for the Light Blues, given the promise he has shown so far.

Aston Villa are trying to sign another young gem for their side this summer, despite his own club desperately trying to keep hold of him, according to the latest reports.

Villa looking for low cost solutions

Despite having enjoyed an excellent season and seemingly set for Champions League football next term, the fear of financial fair play continues to loom over Unai Emery's side, with two of their fellow Premier League sides having already been punished and Manchester City's 115 breaches still being fought.

Though Villa have as of yet no reason to be concerned, they posted losses of £120m for the most recent financial year. The statement that accompanied the announcement claimed that "these figures are in line with the strategic business plan, and we continue to operate within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules", but it has led to significant speculation that should Villa want to spend heavily again this summer, sacrifices will have to be made.

To avoid this happening in the future, Villa are looking to sign players both cheaply and before they hit their prime, with their seemingly successful chase of Mario Hermoso an example of the former, with the Spaniard set to arrive as a free transfer when his contract at Atletico de Madrid expires this summer.

Meanwhile, their January business can be seen as an attempt to achieve the latter, with only one of their five signings being over the age of 21, and one, in the form of Morgan Rodgers, already starring.

Aston Villa's January business

Player

Age

Fee

Morgan Rodgers

21

£8m

Lino Sousa

21

Unknown

Kosta Nedeljkovic

21

£6.5m

Joe Gauci

23

Unknown

Now, they are trying to ramp up this policy and add another young star to their ranks.

Miller on the Villa radar

That comes in the form of Motherwell sensation Lennon Miller, who is catching the eye of a whole host of Premier League sides this summer. The 17-year-old midfielder is out of contract with the Scottish side in 2025 as things stand, and Motherwell are fighting to keep him until at least that point.

However, TeamTalk reveal that there is interest from both Aston Villa and south coast side Bournemouth in the teenager, who helped Motherwell ensure their top flight survival via a relegation play off.

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Villa in particular are thought to be pushing hard, in part because the Midlands outfit "have been scouting Scottish football intensively in recent years" after their success in unearthing John McGinn, who has gone on to become a stalwart in Emery's midfield.

However, it is added that first team football would not be guaranteed for Miller, and that he would likely be asked to earn his stripes in the youth leagues of English football, something that he may be unwilling to do given his exposure to top flight football already.

Miller's future definitely lies away from Motherwell, but it is unclear whether he will make the move this summer, or wait until his contract expires in 12 months to choose his next side.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has ruled out signing Wilfried Zaha this summer but admits he would bring the winger back "in a heartbeat".

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Zaha left Palace for Galatasaray in 2023Winger keen on Premier League movePalace chairman rules out transfer returnWHAT HAPPENED?

Just one year on from leaving Palace for Galatasaray on a free transfer, the 31-year-old reportedly wants to return to the Premier League. The ex-Manchester United player was left out of the Turkish team's squad for their 2-1 win over Konyaspor on Friday and although the Eagles have been linked with him, Parish said it doesn't look like a Selhurst Park return this summer will be possible.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT STEVE PARISH SAID

When asked if he would have Zaha back, he told talkSPORT: "I'd have Wilf Zaha back in a heartbeat. He's part of our club, part of our history. There's a few people that can lay claim at the heart of the resurgence of this club and Wilfried is very much one of them. We stayed in the division [Premier League] sometimes by the force of his will, so, of course, we would. Unfortunately, that doesn't look like it's going to be possible this summer for various reasons and we continue to wish him all the best out there. I'm in contact with him every now and again. I am glad he had a good season last season and he fulfilled his dreams. He played in the Champions League, so it's a great story for him but of course if he was available we would be interested."

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Zaha, who has also been linked with a loan move to Leicester City, has made 458 appearances for Palace in two spells – scoring 90 goals along the way. Getting him back at the club could be a big boost, especially after losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich earlier this summer. The likes of Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, and Adam Wharton are in-demand players and if one of them goes, more reinforcements will be needed. But, it seems, Zaha won't be back at Selhurst Park for the 2024-25 season.

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Ahead of facing Brentford on Sunday, Parish provided an update on their bid to keep hold of centre-back Guehi – who has been the subject of multiple bids from Newcastle United.

He added: “Marc is a great player and we’re a club that have to accept that where we are right now we’re often not the destination. We’re somewhere that you travel through and if we get the right bids for players we need to look at them. We haven’t got that at the moment. If we get that then things may change, but right now Marc is a Palace player. I’m sure he’ll be on the team sheet today (Sunday) and we’re very happy to see him there.”

With Raphael Varane's future still in doubt and his contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, Manchester United have reportedly made contact to secure a long-term replacement in the coming months.

Man United transfer news

It seems Sir Jim Ratcliffe certainly isn't messing around, with links to the likes of Ivan Toney, Donyell Malen and Bologna's Jhon Lucumi already emerging ahead of the summer transfer window. Toney would particularly be a statement signing, given the interest in the Brentford striker elsewhere in the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can put forward a convincing pitch to the England international.

When it comes to departures, meanwhile, United are reportedly ready to show Christian Eriksen the door with the Dane now behind Kobbie Mainoo in Erik ten Hag's pecking order. The 18-year-old has been quite the revelation and has for now eliminated the need for United to search for another central midfielder this summer.

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Varane’s future remains uncertain…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 29, 2024

Young players could be the way forward for those at Old Trafford, too. The Red Devils have a lot of work to do, but players like Mainoo emerging is certainly a good start. And joining him could yet be Aaron Anselmino to improve that good start even further.

According to Ole via Sport Witness, Manchester United have made contact to sign Anselmino from Boca Juniors this summer. The 18-year-old centre-back has reportedly reiterated his desire to stay put at the Argentine club, but United have persisted with their interest alongside Italian giants Milan.

It's no shock that the Premier League heavyweights are interested in a deal, given that Anselmino's release clause currently sits at just €18.5m (£15.8m). With Varane set to leave in summer 2025 at the latest, United need to start thinking about long-term replacements, which is where Anselmino should come in at Old Trafford.

"Dominant" Anselmino is one for the future

It speaks volumes about just how talented Anselmino is that he's already made seven appearances for the Boca Juniors first-team, playing as both a defensive midfielder and central defender in the two appearances that he's made so far this season, only adding to his reputation.

At 18 years old, the Argentine is only set to get better, and for less than £16m, United would be getting themselves a bargain deal before his valuation rises. Signing Anselmino would also represent the direction in which Ratcliffe is attempting to head towards when it comes to incomings.

Ratcliffe said (via Fabrizio Romano): "Mbappé to Man United? I’d try to find the next Mbappé rather than spend a fortune trying to buy success. It’s not that clever to sign Mbappé now, it’s more challenging to find the next Mbappé, next Bellingham or next Roy Keane."

What's more, Anselmino is certainly rated despite his age, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig posting on X:

Whilst he will take some convincing thanks to his desire to stay put at Boca Juniors as things stand, United should push on and try everything possible to land a future star in Anselmino.

Celtic are reportedly set to table a big offer to sign a “highly rated” player for Brendan Rodgers this summer, in a deal potentially worth £7.5m.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops continue to be linked with possible new signings in the summer transfer window, following what will hopefully be the end of a season that finishes with Scottish Premiership glory.

Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan is one player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead, with the 23-year-old once compared to Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne, which says a lot about his quality. He could be seen as a potential replacement for Matt O'Riley this summer, should the Celtic ace leave the club.

A big-money move for Panathinaikos attacker Fotis Ioannidis has also been mooted in recent days, with a transfer that could cost a minimum of £12m reportedly in the works. Jake Clarke-Salter is another rumoured option for the Hoops, with the 26-year-old defender currently plying his trade at Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Then there's Blackburn Rovers and Republic of Ireland striker Sammie Szmodics, who Celtic are believed to be battling with Premier League clubs to sign. He is enjoying a fantastic season, scoring 23 goals in 39 Championship appearances overall.

Celtic readying £7.5m offer for goalkeeper

According to a new update relayed by The Daily Record, Celtic are readying a £7.5m offer for Trabzonspor goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir this summer, seeing him as a great option to replace Joe Hart between the sticks, ahead of the veteran's retirement at the end of the campaign.

The report states that the search is on for a top-class new 'keeper and "it has emerged from Turkey that Trabzonspor's Cakir could be that man with the Hoops seeking permission for talks with his management team and lawyer and a Zoom call between the player and Rodgers."

Cakir could be a superb option for Celtic in the summer, and the fact that they are willing to possibly pay £7.5m says a lot about his credentials as a player.

The 28-year-old is a hugely established footballer, but still has years left in him, captaining Trabzonspor and also winning 27 caps for Turkey to date. Meanwhile, YouTuber Conor McGilligan heaped praise on him in the past when Leeds United were tracking him, saying:

"It is one of those things where Leeds have just got to keep pursuing, we’ve got to keep going for these deals with someone like Ugurcan, highly rated, seen as one of the top ‘keepers in Turkey, one of the top ‘keepers in Europe, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on."

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 7, 2024

Hart is going to leave a big void in Celtic's goal, proving to be such a strong performer over the years, and it is essential that Rodgers brings in a formidable successor. In Cakir, the Hoops may have a fantastic option in that respect, so they could look to do all they can to strike a deal.